Matthew 7:7-12 (MSG)

7-11 “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?

12 “Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get."

As we begin this “Thrive Project”, it begins with prayer. We have been praying for months now as to how to accomplish this daunting task. Several months ago, I decided to set a reminder on my cell phone every day at 8:00 a.m. to “pray for God’s guidance.” I invite you to join me.

Maybe you would be willing to set a reminder for yourself to pray every day? Set it on your phone, or your calendar, or your refrigerator, whatever works for you. I ask that you hear these words from scripture that tell us to pray for what we are asking from God directly! We can be bold in believing that God wants to bless us and I am convinced God wants to bless this project. Will you join me in prayer?

“Gracious God, hear our prayer, asking that you will lead us to faithfulness and right living, and that you will accomplish your perfect will in and through all of our lives. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen."